See More Of the Cars at DeskTopMachine.com + Audi Sportback Concept + BMW Z4 Roadster Official Websites www.Audi.com www.BMW.com
	Taking a look at the cabins of BMW's latest creation, the all-new Z4, and Audi's most recent show car, the Sportback Concept, it seems that the dashboards have been designed by the same person. Or, to avoid the term 'copy', one was inspired by the other. The partition is widely identical and many lines run the same ways. The usage of materials might differ a bit, but in general, there are clear not to say obvious similarities. On the other hand, identical demands lead to similar results: Air vents have to be positioned nearby the steering wheel to enable warming driver's hands at cold winter days as well as a monitor must be close to the eyes to keep refocusing time low. And of course, controls should be in reach. So there is, at best, just a narrow range where things could be. Another influence to looks is fashion, besides technology. Organic shapes, for example, result in rounded edges. Furthermore there are expectations to live up to. Customers would be disappointed about a large bulky four-spoke steering wheel on a sporty car! So a smaller three-spoke wheel is mounted to both. The same for the materials. Having wood and leather, combined with some fine aluminium frames, is simply a must on high-end automobiles. Finally there is no need to reinvent something very good, unless it is possible to make it even better. Seen in this light the fascias of the Audi and the BMW are just interpretations of what is state of the art and en vogue at the moment. No doubt, BMW was first (of the two). Basically we expected the A7, which is introduced by the Sportback Concept, to get a cockpit similar to the A6's. But maybe they'll put in something like that.
	< Contents If you want to refer to this article in an Internet forum, this is its address: www.fast-zi-nation.de/09_articles/audi_bmw_dash.html